Chapter 46
Chapter 46:
Austin’s voice carried a deep, steely edge that softened only when he spoke of her. “There were countless faces at that banquet, but only you—little braids flying, furious and fearless—stood in front of me and drove my bullying siblings away p>
His gaze dropped to Brinley, watching her sway in a drunken haze, emotion flickering in his eyes like a storm barely contained. His words fell so low they were nearly swallowed by the silence. “From that moment, I told myself I’d wait for you to grow up… wait until I could make you my wife. I’ve waited all these years p>
Leaning closer, he let his fingertips skim her cheek, as if afraid she might vanish if he pressed too hard. His voice turned achingly tender. “And now you’re finally mine p>
Brinley blinked through the blur of alcohol, struggling to follow, her lashes heavy with sleep. In the end, she managed only a faint, slurred “Mm-hmm,” before her body gave out and she collapsed into his arms.
Austin caught her before she toppled, a weary sigh slipping from his lips as he gathered her up.
For once, Brinley didn’t resist. She curled instinctively against his chest, her cheek pressed to the steady rise and fall of his breathing, her own breaths gradually evening out.
𝖭𝖾𝘄 𝗰𝘩𝘢𝗉𝘁𝘦𝗋𝗌 е𝗏e𝗿y 𝘄𝘦𝖾𝗸 𝗈𝗇
He carried her into the bedroom and lowered her carefully onto the bed. After tucking the blanket around her, he leaned closer, brushing a stray lock of hair from her brow.
“Have a nice dream, Brinley,” he murmured, his fingertip lingering briefly against her skin as if to reassure himself she was truly there.
Austin remained by her side for a quiet moment, watching until her features softened fully into sleep, then finally turned and stepped away.
Back in his own room, rest eluded him.
A sharp, familiar ache twisted in his stomach, cold sweat breaking across his back.
His brow furrowed as he fumbled through the drawer, shook out a few pills, and swallowed them dry. Yet the pain refused to ease.
Propped against the headboard, he closed his eyes and let the waves of agony roll through him, enduring it alone in silence.
When morning arrived, the shrill chime of her phone yanked Brinley from her dreams.
Half-dazed, she fumbled to answer, only to hear Miguel’s anxious voice spill through the line. “Mrs. Moore! Do you happen to know where Mr. Moore went? I’ve been trying to contact him, but nothing’s going through, and both offices say he hasn’t shown up. He told me he had something crucial scheduled today p>
Brinley frowned at those words. The fog in her mind lifted abruptly, snapping her into clarity.
She barely remembered how she’d ended up in bed—only that she’d wanted a drink and had run into Austin in the living room afterward. “I… I’ll check right now,” she blurted, cutting the call short.
Throwing on a coat, she hurried to Austin’s room and rapped on the door, her voice rising. “Austin? Are you in there p>
Silence answered her.
Her heart thudded faster as she knocked harder. “Austin! Answer me p>
Panic spiked in her veins when nothing came back.
A sick weight pressed against her ribs. She grabbed the doorknob and twisted, but it wouldn’t budge—the door was locked.
An ominous chill slid down her spine.
Austin was never careless. He lived by strict routine, punctual to the minute, never one to vanish without reason.
Something was wrong.